A former resident of Hebron, Maine, Steven Parker, 47, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to charges of distributing and possessing child sexual abuse material. According to court documents, Parker sent a video file containing child sexual abuse material to an undercover agent using a messaging application.
In August 2024, law enforcement from the Maine State Police Computer Crimes Unit (MSPCCU) and the FBI executed a search warrant at Parker’s home. They seized several digital devices that contained files of child sexual abuse material. During an interview with investigators, Parker admitted to accessing, viewing, and distributing this illegal content over the internet.
Parker is facing a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and could receive up to 20 years. He also faces a possible fine of $250,000 and a maximum supervised release term of life. Sentencing will occur after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigative report. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district court judge who will consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other legal factors.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and MSPCCU.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received 36 million reports in 2023 related to possession, manufacture, or distribution of child sexual abuse materials. Reports can be filed at https://report.cybertip.org or by calling 1-800-843-5678. In Maine, individuals seeking help regarding sexual assault or abuse can contact the statewide helpline at 1-800-871-7741.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006 to address child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. The program brings together federal, state, and local resources to locate offenders and rescue victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood is available at https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/psc.
